Theatrical appliance.



J. H. IVI. DUDLEY.

THEARICAL APPLIANCE.

APPLlcATmI FILED senza. |916.'

1,286,877. Patented June 26,1917.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrrcn. i

JOHN I-I. M. DUDLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROLFE & MADDOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. COPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF B. A. ROLFE AND C. B. IVIADDOCK.

THEATRICAL APPLIANCE.

fo/all 'whom/@'15 may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN I-I. M. DUDLEY, a citizenfof the United States, residingfat New York, in the county and Statey of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Theatrical Appliances, of which the following is a specification.y

' This invention relates t0 theatrical appli.

- pear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relativearrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out by the vappended claims.

`Referring to the drawing,-

Figure 1 is `aplan view of a stage arranged and equipped with apparatus` and y embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation viewv of the Sama Fig. 3 is a broken detail sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in the foregoing views.v Y

The same part 1s designated by the same reference numerals wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

It is among-the special purposes of my present invention t0 so arrange the stage settings, scenery, and the like, to give a full size reproduction of a portion of a large building, shipor the like, so that the audience will be looking at such reproduction at a perspective angle. In the concrete illustration I have selected as illustrative Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed September 29, 1916. Serial N o. 122,807.

so made, or the supporting turret therefor must be so made as to allow the guns to be swung out over the heads of the audience.

In the drawings I show the stage indicated at 1 provided with the usual curtain which is adapted to fall as indicated at 2 in dotted lines in Fig. 1, immediately before the usual tormentors 3. Positioned on the stage 1, and preferably to the right of the center thereof, I place the fore turret which is made preferably 4of wood frame work andv comprises the stationary portion 4: and the gun carrying'portion 5, rotatively movable relative to the portion 1. The portion 5 -of the turret has protruding from the vfront thereof guns 6.; In this instance three of suchguns are employed.

Inthe right rear corner of the stage a set piece 7 is located depicting` the front of the secondary turret from which protrude guns 8, offull size.v These guns are directed at an acute Vangle with the plane of the front of the stage. A curtain, scene panel or drop 9 is placed immediately behind the set piece 7, and is cut out to form the fore mast of the battle ship,.and behind'this is placed a similar curtain, scene panel or drop 10 cut out'and painted to depict the funnel or smoke: stack of the battleship. Gnthe part 11 of the rear curtain or drop 12, is painted the rear mast or towerof the ship, all as shown in Fig. 2. Itwill be understood that the relative sizes of the masts 9, 11 and smoke stack 10 decrease in accordance with the perspective view desired. The remainingportion ofthe back drop or curtain 12 Hhaspainted thereon the usual sea or ocean scene, with horizon, waves, sky and, if desired, similar ships in the distance.

To more clearly bring out the illusion of a sea or ocean scene, wings 13 and 14 cut out to form waves, and having the billows painted thereon may be employed as shown. In front of the wave wings 13, 14, I pro- Vide a wing 15, having a rail painted thereon or a complete rail 16 to form the deck rail of the battleship.

From the foregoing it will bev seen that the stage proper, being completely bared, and being usually formed of wood strips, as in the case of ordinary wooden fiooring, gives the complete impression, being inclosed by the rail 16, of being the foredeck of a battleship.

It is obvious that the guns 6 are too large to be placed on the stage pointing in their normal position, and on this account I provide the rotary turret portion 5 with a shaft 20 extending through the portion 4, and supported by suitable bearings 21 to allowr the free rotation of the portion 5 relative to the portion 4. Any suitable means may be employed to rotate the portion 5, for eX- ample, a. handle 23 carried by they shaft 20.

I will briefly describe how I propose to produce the desired illusionary effect. The

stage is set as above set forth, and the swinging turret 4, 5, is placed in the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The front curtain 2 is then raised while all of the klights in the theater are out and the turret 5 is then swung by the operator within the same into its normal position with its guns 6 in alinement with the guns 8 of the set piece 7. The lights are then turned on the stage, and the eHect of the audience being on the foredeck of a battleship, and looking in the direction of its diagonal length, is complete. Y

' It will be understood that many changes in details will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope of my invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,.--

1. A stage effect or setting comprising in combination a series of scenic wings, simulating a Vmarine perspective, scenic panels simulating portions of a vessel, a turret setting having simulated great guns associated with the scenic panels, and a movable turret disposed below and in front of the fixed turret Vand having 'simulated guns, and means for moving said turret, the whole producing the efect of the foredeck of a battleship on the ocean.

' 2. A stage eii'ect or setting comprising in combination a series of scenic wings, simulating a marine perspective, scenic panels simulating portions of a vessel, a setting having simulated great gun equipment disposed in front of said scenic panels, and a setting disposed below and in front of said first mentioned setting and also having simulated great guns, and means for moving the simulated guns of one setting relative to the simulated guns of the other of said v4. A stage eifect or setting'comprising in i combination a series of scenic wings, panels and a back drop and stationary settings to simulate the perspective of a complete struc-` ture, and a'setting Vadapted to be swung out from the stage relative to said stationary settings, for completing the perspective'effect of said structure, and means for swingingsaid last named setting "out from the stage. f i

5'. A stage eifect or setting comprising in combination a series of scenic wings, simulating a marine perspective, a turret setting having simulated great guns associated with said wings, and means for revolving said turret relative to said wings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 27th day of September A. D., 1916. L j

JOHN II. M. DUDLEY.

Copies ofl this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner-of Patents,

Washington, D. C. f l 

